Supporting device to be embedded in concrete structure



Dec. 8, 1964 w. F. LA MORTE 3,

SUPPORTING DEVICE TO BE EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE STRUCTURE Criginal FiledJune 19, 1958 'I. WW "V MZ/AM f l/l/Waerf United States Patent 3,159345SUPFORTINS DEVICE TO BE EMBEDDED EN CONiIRETE STRUTUF E This applicationis a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 743,154, filedJune 19, 1958, now abandoned, which is in turn a continuation-in-part ofmy prior application Serial No. 508,365, filed May 16, 1955, nowabandoned. That appl cation discloses a device which may be used as aceiling hanger and which is adapted to be embedded in a horizontalreinforced concrete slab-for supporting a ceiling below the slab. Thatdevice comprises a housing having an open face adapted for placement inabutting relation with the upper surface of a form for receiving pouredconcrete. A stress dis tributing member extends transversely through thehousing and has a pair of oppositely projecting end portions whichextend upwardly and laterally outside the housing. A support member ispivotally mounted on the portion of the stress distributing memberwithin the housing. When the housing is in place on the form, the hangerelement is in a retracted position, entirely enclosed within thehousing. After the concrete is set and the form is removed, thesupportmember may move down to an active position where it projectsbelow the concrete slab and is free to receive the ceiling to be hung.The stress distributing element transfers the load from the supportmember to a considerablevolurne of the concrete slab. The internaldimensions of the housing are only slightly greator than the dimensionsof the hanger element, so as to minimize any weakening of the slab whichmay be occasioned by the presence ofthe open space inside the housing.

The device disclosed herein-embodies the invention of my priorapplication Serial No. 568,365 and further includes certain improvementsover that invention.

One of the problems encountered with the use of devices of this typestems from the modern practice of I vibrating the concrete as it ispoured in order to make sure that it fills all thespaces around thereinforcing members and in the corners of the forms. This vibration iscommonly accomplished by means of an air hose supplied with air underpulsating pressure, and res-ting on the top of the semitluid mass ofpoured concrete. The vibration has a tendency to make the concrete, andparticularly the finer components thereof, penetrate into the smallestinterstices in the forms and other parts with which it comes in contact.If the casing of the ceiling hanger is not tightly fastened to the form,the concrete may penetrate under the casing, so that when it hardens itblocks or partially blocks the downward movement of the support memberwhich is necessary to make the sup port member useful. This necessitatesremoval of the blocking concrete particles,'usually by hand with ahammet and chisel, thereby increasing the expense of construction.

Another problem encountered in connection with the use of devices ofthis type arises from the fact that these devices constituteobstructions to workmen walking along the tops of the forms during theconstruction thereof. The hangers are likely to be kicked by the workmenand to be thereby displaced. The projecting horns of the stressdistributing members are particularly troublesome to the workmen in thatthey tend to snag the workmens clothing and are likely to receiveimpatient and sometimes 3,15%,945 Fatented Dec. 8, 1964 'ice violentkicks which may break the connection, usually a weld, between the stressdistributing member and the casing. If this connection is broken, thestress distributing element may fall from its intended upright positionso that the stress on the loaded hanger element .is not adequatelydistributed through the concrete slab, after the slab is set, but on theother-hand, is distributed only through a relatively shallow portion ofthe slab.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ceilinghanger of the type described.

A further object of the invention is to provide-an improved ceilinghanger including means for preventing seepage of concrete into thehousing of the hanger 'during vibration of the slab being poured.

Another object is to provide a ceiling hanger of the type describedincluding improved means for fixing the stress distributing elementsintheir intended positions with respect tothe housing.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished in thestructures disclosed herein by providshown, the yoke is a rod bent inthe form of a U and welded to the two end portions of thestress-distributing member. This yoke limits the movement of the stressdistributing member from its upright position.

A removable cover means is provided for the open face of the housingwhich is placed against the form. This removable cover means maycomprise a strip of tape impregnated with mastic material. In anothermodification, the cover means comprises a stufiing element which may bepushed into the housing. In still another modification, the removablecover means comprises a sheet-metal element which may besnapped into thehousing.

Flanges are provided projecting horizontally and outwardly along allfour sides of the housing. These flanges are subjected to a downwardpressure from the concrete poured on top of them and tend to hold thehousing firmly against the form.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following specification and claims, takentogether with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a piece of sheet metal which has been stampedout and is ready to be folded to form the housing of a ceiling hangerembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II :II of FIG. 3showing a complete ceiling hanger embodying the invention in place on aconcrete form;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ceiling hanger of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken onthe line IV IV of FIG. 2,showing the hanger in place in a setslab of concrete;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, showing a modificationprior to removal ofthe form;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing another modification; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing still another modification.

FIGS. 1 to 4 The ceiling hanger of these figures comprises a housinggenerally indicated by the reference numeral 1, a stress distributingelement generally indicated by the reference numeral 2 and a supportmember 3.

The housing is formed from a blank illustrated in FIG. 1. This housingcomprises an inner Wall portion In, two elongated side wall portions 1b,two end wall portionslc, four tabs 1d, two end flanges 1e and two sideflanges" 1f.

When the housing 1 is folded and assembled, the tabs Ira fold over theend portions 10. The flanges 1e project horizontally from the ends ofthe housing and the flanges i 1 project laterally from the sides of thecasing. The lower side of the casing, as it is formed from the blank I,is completely open.

The stress distributing member 2 comprises a central portion 2a whichextends transversely of the housing 1 and is welded to the housing whereit passes through the walls thereof, as shown at 4 in FIG. 4. 'Gutsidethe housing, end portions 2b of the stress distributing member are bentvertically upward and are formed on their upper ends with outwardly anddownwardly extending tips 20.

A yoke 5, best seen in FIG. 3, is formed by bending a steel rod in a Ushape. The yoke 5 is welded to the upstanding ends 2b of the stressdistributing member, as by means of Welding. Preferably, the yoke 5 isslightly spaced above the top in of the casing.

The support member 3 is preferably cut from fiat steel v bar stock andhas holes punched in it adjacent either end.

One hole receives the central portion 2a of the stress distributingmember. The other hole is adapted to receive the strap on the ceiling tobe supported.

The ceiling hanger may be fastened in place on a concrete form 7 bymeans of nails 6 (see FIG. 2) driven through suitable holes provided inthe flanges 1e. In the case of metal forms, the ceiling hanger, isusually fastened in place by driving nails through the intersticesbetween form elements. Alternatively, it may be fastened in place bytying or wiring the ends 21) of the stress distributing member to thereinforcing elements of the concrete slab. I

When the structureshown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is in place on V a form, themass of concrete poured over it exerts a downward force on the flanges1e and 1 and tends to hold them tightly in engagement with the slab 7,thereby inhibiting seepage of concrete into the housing 1 when thconcrete is vibrated after pouring.

- The yoke 5 serves to block angular movement of the stress distributingmember 2 with respect to the housing 1, such as might .be caused by anaccidental or intentional kick directed at the stress distributingmember. Such a kick may break the weld 4, but it is unlikely to breakthe yoke 5 so that the end portions 2b of the stress distributing membercan depart substantially from their intended upright positions.

The yoke 5 should be spaced slightly above the casing 1., as shown, sothat impacts delivered to the end portions of the stress distributingmember 2 are not transferred to the housing through the yoke 5, but onlythrough the weld 4. Consequently, the yoke 5 is substantially unstressed by such impacts. If the weld is broken by such an impact, theyoke is unlikely to be broken at the same time, because of the shortduration of the impact. The yoke thus provides a second line of defenseagainst kicking and maintains the member 2 in an efiFective operatingposition even if the weld 4 is broken. Consequently, proper distributionof the load on the member 2 deeply into the set slab of concrete isassured. If the yoke 5 Were omitted, the stress distributing member 2might, as a result of such a kick, fall to a position where its ends 212were resting directly on the form. They would not 7 then be effective totransfer the load from the hanger elestrip 8 of tape impregnated withmastic material so that it can stick to the flanges 1 and 1e whichsurround the open face of the housing It. The tape 8 prevents seepage ofconcrete into the interior of the housing where it might block thedownward movement of the support member 3 to its active position.

FIG. 6

This figure illustrates a modified type .of removable cover meanscomprising a wad 9 of felt or other similar light, space fillingmaterial pushed into the casing l. The wad 9 is effective to preventseepage of concrete into the casing. Although a wad 9 is shown on onlyone side of the support member 3, it may in some cases be convenient touse two wads, one on either side of the support member. Instead of afibrous wad of material, the stuffing may consist of filling the casingwith a heavy grease, such as axle grease.

FIG. 7

This figure illustrates a further modification of the invention, whereinthe removable cover means comprises a sheet metal cover it? formed withresilient flanges along its sides so that it may snap into place insidethe open face of the housing 1, with the flanges yieldably andfunctionally engaging the'wall of the casing.

In any of the modifications shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the removablecover means may be readily taken away after the form is stripped off theset slab.

When any of the removable cover means is in place, there may be aseepage which results in a very thin layer of concrete between the covermeans and the form. Such a thin layer is very fragile when it sets, andmay be readily removed, even if it does not break away during strippingof the form. The removable cover means in the various modificationsshown do not prevent formation of such thin layers of concrete but doprevent the formation of movement of the hanger element to its activeposition, and which might require a chiseling operation for theirremoval.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,other modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in theart, and I therefore intend my invention to be limited only by theappended claims.

I claim:

1 A supporting device adapted to be embedded in a horizontal reinforcedconcrete slab to support an external load on the slab, comprising:

(a) an elongated casing having Walls of relatively thin sheet materialand open at one of its elongated faces, said casing being relativelyshallow as compared to its length and being relatively narrow betweenits two elongated side walls as compared to the height of said sidewalls, said casin being adapted for placement with its open face againstand closed by a form to receive poured concrete;

(Z1) a stress distributing member having:

(1) a middle portion spanning the narrow dimension of the casingadjacent one end thereof and and inwardly of the open face thereof, saidmiddie portion extending through apertures in the walls of the casing;and

(2) integral end portions outside the casing and extending upwardly fromsaid middle portion and adapted to serve as anchors in the pouredconcrete;

(c) weld means at said apertures fastening the member to the walls toprevent rotation of the member in the apertures;

(d) a yoke attached to and connecting the end portions and spacedslightly above the housing so as to be unstressed by forces applied tosaid end portions as long as said weld means is intact, and effective tolimit rotation of the member with respect to the housing upon rupture ofthe weld means; 7

(e) an elongated flat support member, slightly shorter than said casing,and positioned with its smallest dimension extending in the samedirection as the relatively narrow dimension of the casing and its widthextending in the same general direction as the side walls of the casing,said support member being apertured adjacent one end to receive themiddle portion of said stress distributing member, said support memberhaving a retracted position when the open face of the casing is againsta form, in which position it is closely confined within the casing andits other end is adjacent the other end of the casing, said supportmember being pivotally movable edgewise when said form is removed fromthe set concrete to an active position wherein its other end projectsfrom the casing, said support memberbeing adapted when in its activeposition to transfer a stress due to an external load directly to saidstress distributing memher at the middle portion thereof. 2. Asupporting device as defined in claim 1 in which said stressdistributing member is of circular cross-section,

and the apertures in the Walls of the casing, through which the middleportion of the stress distributing member extends, are also circular.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS AhernSept. 26, OBrien Sept. 19,

Zents Aug. 7,

Bayley Feb. 19, Tasefi' Nov. 17, Zabriskie Apr. 20,

Techmer Sept. 18,

Shook Mar. 8,

Reil'and Nov. 28,

Predan Apr. 21, Hillberg Oct. 31,

FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Oct. 14,

Belgium Dec. 30,

1. A SUPPORTING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE EMBEDDED IN A HORIZONTAL REINFORCEDCONCRETE SLAB TO SUPPORT AN EXTERNAL LOAD ON THE SLAB, COMPRISING: (A)AN ELONGATED CASING HAVING WALLS OF RELATIVELY THIN SHEET MATERIAL ANDOPEN AT ONE OF ITS ELONGATED FACES, SAID CASING BEING RELATIVELY SHALLOWAS COMPARED TO ITS LENGTH AND BEING RELATIVELY NARROW BETWEEN ITS TWOELONGATED SIDE WALLS AS COMPARED TO THE HEIGHT OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAIDCASING BEING ADAPTED FOR PLACE MENT WITH ITS OPEN FACE AGAINST ANDCLOSED BY A FORM TO RECEIVE POURED CONCRETE; (B) A STRESS DISTRIBUTINGMEMBER HAVING: (1) A MIDDLE PORTION SPANNING THE NARROW DIMENSION OF THECASING ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND AND INWARDLY OF THE OPEN FACETHEREOF, SAID MIDDLE PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH APERTURES IN THE WALLS OFTHE CASING; AND (2) INTEGRAL END PORTIONS OUTSIDE THE CASING ANDEXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID MIDDLE PORTION AND ADAPTED TO SERVE ASANCHORS IN THE POURED CONCRETE; (C) WELD MEANS AT SAID APERTURESFASTENING THE MEMBER TO THE WALLS TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE MEMBER INTHE APERTURES; (D) A YOKE ATTACHED TO AND CONNECTING THE END PORTIONSAND SPACED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE HOUSING SO AS TO BE UNSTRESSED BY FORCESAPPLIED TO SAID END PORTIONS AS LONG AS SAID WELD MEANS IS INTACT, ANDEFFECTIVE TO LIMIT ROTATION OF THE MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE HOUSINGUPON RUPTURE OF THE WELD MEANS; (E) AN ELONGATED FLAT SUPPORT MEMBER,SLIGHTLY SHORTER THAN SAID CASING, AND POSITIONED WITH ITS SMALLESTDIMENSION EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE RELATIVELY NARROWDIMENSION OF THE CASING AND ITS WIDTH EXTENDING IN THE SAME GENERALDIRECTION AS THE SIDE WALLS OF THE CASING, SAID SUPPORTMEMBER BEINGAPERTURED ADJACENT ONE END TO RECEIVE THE MIDDLE PORTION OF SAID STRESSDISTRIBUTING MEMBER, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A RETRACTED POSITIONWHEN THE OPEN FACE OF THE CASING IS AGAINST A FORM, IN WHICH POSITION ITIS CLOSELY CONFINED WITHIN THE CASING AND ITS OTHER END IS ADJACENT THEOTHER END OF THE CASING, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLEEDGEWISE WHEN SAID FORM IS REMOVED FROM THE SET CONCRETE TO AN ACTIVEPOSITION WHEREIN ITS OTHER END PROJECTS FROM THE CASING, SAID SUPPORTMEMBER BEING ADAPTED WHEN IN ITS ACTIVE POSITION TO TRANSFER A STRESSDUE TO AN EXTERNAL LOAD DIRECTLY TO SAID STRESS DISTRIBUTING MEMBER ATTHE MIDDLE PORTION THEREOF.